Five farmers attempt suicide, probe likely

The farmers had gone to meet additional collector Narendra Lonkar to demand speedy compensation for their land. However, when they failed to get a positive response from the senior official, they allegedly consumed pesticides in presence of several employees of the collectorate.

Five farmers, including a woman, allegedly consumed poison at the district collectorate in Maharashtra’s Akola on Monday in protest against, what they called, was the delay in getting compensation for their land acquired for a highway project.

Image used for representational purpose only. (AP file photo)

All the five people were rushed to the district civil hospital. District collector Jitendra Papalkar said, “We will inquire the matter and submit a report to the government in this regard,” he said, claiming that the condition of the farmers was stable .

The five had gone to meet additional collector Narendra Lonkar to demand speedy compensation for their land. However, when they failed to get a positive response from the senior official, they allegedly consumed pesticides in presence of several employees of the collectorate.

Meanwhile, the district Shiv Sena demanded a stern action against the revenue officials concerned alleging they offered “irrational” compensation to farmers for their land acquired for the highway project. District Sena chief Nitin Deshmukh also submitted a memorandum to the district collector in this regard.